Promoting Intrinsic Religiosity in Minority-Majority Relationships for Healthy Democratic Life

By : Asoke Kumar Saha

Page No: 237-245

Abstract
All major religions have two aspects: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic religiosity is externally visible in religious practices. It includes prayers, clothing, religious languages, symbols, costumes, etc. On the other hand, intrinsic religiosity refers to ethical principles and code of conduct. Behavioral value systems of all religions are common and identical in nature irrespective of ecology, demography and race. Functionally, the meaning of the word God, Ishwar, Allaha, Vogoban, Provhu, etc. is the same. All religions teach us faith, truth and kindness, peace, noble work, compassion, generosity, ungrudging helps to the helpless etc are part of ethical codes of all religions (Murray, 1951; and Hunt, 1988). Extrinsic religiosity breeds discrimination, promotes hostility and rivalry, while intrinsic religiosity promotes unity, tolerance, trust building and social harmony. In order to banish all negative thoughts against any religion, it is essential that positive attitudes towards all religions be promoted by social scientists in general and psychologists in particular (Ghurge, 1965; Gopal, 1987 and Oberoi, 1997). The basic methodology for achieving the aforementioned goal and overall effort need to be designed based on a pyramid model in the beginning. In this study a Meta-analysis has been done and discussed the intrinsic religiosity of Islam, Sonatan (Hindu), Budhism to maintain democratic health life. Further research initiatives can be considered a group of 20 to 25 persons, drawn from different religious group in a particular region. This group will be subjected to have intensive discussion and brainstorming on the essential unit of ethical principles in all religions. Several meetings on these intrinsic religiosity concepts will definitely increase the tolerance and enhance inter religious harmony, which will ultimately mediate any peace process and will reduce tension. The experiment may be repeated for other Asian countries where inter-religious tensions are creating social disorder and corrosion of healthy social life and unhealthy political practices.

Author :
Asoke Kumar Saha : Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Jagannath University, Dhaka-1100, Bangladesh